his hat-trick after clean bowling Sri Lankan batsman Nuwan Pradeep (R) during their second one-day international match at the Rangiri International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla on Tuesday.— AFP photo
Heavy rain washed out the second one-day international between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Tuesday, preventing the visitors from chasing a record target to wrap-up the three-match series.
The Tigers rode on a hat-trick of fast bowler Taskin Ahmed to bowl out Sri Lanka for 311 runs and hoped to chase it down to create another piece of history at Rangiri International Stadium.
No team could ever knock down a target in excess of 300 runs in Sri Lanka but Bangladesh had the momentum after Taskin’s surprise hat-trick ended their innings with a ball still to play.
Immediately after Sri Lanka innings, rain came in abundance prompting the match officials to call off the game at 8:45pm local time without even waiting for the cut-off time.
The wash out means Bangladesh now cannot lose the series as they won the first match on Saturday 90 runs.
Sri Lanka would be frustrated not only with the rain robbing them of an opportunity to level the series but also with the manner in which they ended their batting.
Needing a win to stay alive in the series, Mendis laid the foundation for a strong total for the hosts
with 102 off 107 before Taskin’s late burst halted their progress.
Taskin grasped a brilliant reflect catch off his own bowling to dismiss Mendis and then removed Asela Gunuratne (39), Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep in the final over to complete his hat-trick as the fifth Bangladeshi bowler.
The hat-trick came as a much-needed boost for Bangladesh after all the struggle throughout the innings despite an early breakthrough by skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza.
Mashrafee took opener Danushka Gunathilaka early for nine but Mendis shared 111 runs with skipper Upul Tharanga for the second wicket to put Sri Lanka in a strong position.
A direct hit from Mahmudullah helped Bangladesh separate the duo as Tharanga was run out for 65, trying to complete a single off a no-ball off Mustafizur Rahman.
Mendis struck a six and a four in the next two balls to complete his fifty before racing to his century in 102 balls with a single off Mashrafee.
Mustafiz, who conceded 20 runs in that eventful over, trapped Dinesh Chandimal leg before for 24 to finally shift the
momentum to Bangladesh’s way before Taskin’s magical second and third
spell revived Bangladesh’s hopes.
Rain ruined their chance of winning the game but Bangladesh can still win the series should they win the third and final match in Colombo on April 1.
Source: New Age
